One alternate juror, described as an unemployed truck driver, was also seated today, leaving two more alternates to be chosen Friday. Lake County Associate Judge Christopher Stride said he still hopes to begin opening arguments Friday after the completion of alternate jury selection and consideration of final pretrial motions.

The jurors selected since Tuesday include a CPA, a neuroscientist, a construction worker, an office receptionist, a computer support manager, a worker at a telecommunications company and a manager of a direct party selling company.

Jurors selected earlier include a retired operations manager for an import company, a village department supervisor, a carpenter, a food company manager and a website design manager.

One woman whose parents were both Holocaust survivors was rejected for the jury Thursday by the prosecution, prompting a challenge from the defense.

“She was the third Jewish person excused,” defense attorney William Hedrick said. “When the defendant is Jewish, we’re not free to ignore that.”

The next potential juror, however, a Jewish woman, was selected by Lake County Assistant State’s Attorneys Patricia Fix and Ari Fisz. Fisz denied that rejecting the other jurors had anything to do with their faith.

Yang is accused of shooting Rhoni Reuter, killing her and her unborn baby girl, on Oct. 4, 2007, in Reuter’s Deerfield condo. Yang was arrested and charged in March 2009 and has been held in Lake County Jail since then.